NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has pulled up Tamil Nadu govt over 41 missing files related to investigations into theft of idols in the state and raised the question whether fires occur simultaneously in 38 different police stations or was there any circular to destroy the files.
A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan issued notice to the ministry of external affairs and the ministry of culture in a case concerning the recovery of idols stolen since 1985 from various temples in Tamil Nadu, which are said to be in foreign museums.
"Right from day one, petitions have been filed in the Madras high court pointing out that 376 idols have been stolen. The details were placed before authorities for recovery. They pointed out that the idols were available in museums abroad. When details were placed before authorities, 41 files went missing. What is the reason behind these files going missing? Where are those files," the bench asked the state.
The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by advocate Elephant G Rajendran seeking an investigation into the disappearance of 41 case diaries connected to thefts of antique temple idols in Tamil Nadu.The petitioner alleged that more than 50 idols were stolen and that the fate of the recovered idols was not known. Rajendran said the stolen idols were kept in museums abroad, including in California and Washington.
The apex court said that it was the responsibility of the state to protect culture and asked how 41 files had gone missing. "Did fires occur simultaneously in 38 different police stations destroying the files? Or was there any circular to destroy the files," the top court observed.
Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for Tamil Nadu, told the SC bench that some of the files had been reconstructed and some of the idols have been recovered.tnn
A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan issued notice to the ministry of external affairs and the ministry of culture in a case concerning the recovery of idols stolen since 1985 from various temples in Tamil Nadu, which are said to be in foreign museums.
"Right from day one, petitions have been filed in the Madras high court pointing out that 376 idols have been stolen. The details were placed before authorities for recovery. They pointed out that the idols were available in museums abroad. When details were placed before authorities, 41 files went missing. What is the reason behind these files going missing? Where are those files," the bench asked the state.
The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by advocate Elephant G Rajendran seeking an investigation into the disappearance of 41 case diaries connected to thefts of antique temple idols in Tamil Nadu.The petitioner alleged that more than 50 idols were stolen and that the fate of the recovered idols was not known. Rajendran said the stolen idols were kept in museums abroad, including in California and Washington.
The apex court said that it was the responsibility of the state to protect culture and asked how 41 files had gone missing. "Did fires occur simultaneously in 38 different police stations destroying the files? Or was there any circular to destroy the files," the top court observed.
Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for Tamil Nadu, told the SC bench that some of the files had been reconstructed and some of the idols have been recovered.tnn
You may also like
'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' replacement: ABC to air Charlie Kirk tribute in late-night slot; broadcast set for Friday
IT company manager confesses the risks of his designation: Waiting to be fired to skills stagnation to zero real authority
The Aland files: Rahul Gandhi drops 'Hydrogen bomb'; claims CEC 'protecting destroyers of democracy'
State-wide blood donation camps organised under "Seva Saptah" in Assam
After royal pomp, Trump's state visit turns to politics, meeting with Starmer
